Seeking advice on the best way to inscribe signatures/names on a rod. I am using a gel pen - problem seems to be what to seal it with. I have been using epoxy (same as on wraps) but it seems to take about 3 coats for it to even out. Any susggestions?

If you are having trouble with leveling, you are probably using way to much finish and/or your rod isn't perfectly level
Level the blank so that the centerline of the blank is level. Just apply the finish while handturning and when it's covered stop turning and wait for the sags to hang from the bottom. Remove the sags and rotate 180 degrees and let sag and remove again. Do this ubtil their are no longer any sags and then you can turn on the dryer if you use one. You will get a perfect finish everytime. Resist messing with it once it's on.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Bill......
I have been using a fine tipped pen, with Testors paint for my signatures and inscribing names.....then I cover it with a coat of FlexCoat High Build....been doing it that way for about five years...works for me !!



MaryLou Van de Riet
Weatherford,Texas USA

The high build formula may be the ticket. I have been using Flex Coat Lite. The problem has not been so much "leveling" as just getting a good smooth coat of epoxy. I'll try it - Thanks..Bill

Bill,

ALL epoxy (lite, Hi-build, any brand) will level perfectly if applied properly. It has to, it's a liquid. The key is not to mess with it after you apply it except to remove the sags.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Mike,

Thanks for your input. I think what I'm trying to get over is, by using the epoxy lite, I was not getting a full enough coat for it to be smooth on all sides. I'm not sure what was causing it, but it had a slight "ripple" effect - which pretty much smoothed out on the second or third coat. I am heating the epoxy , using a dryer and applying it with a small brush. You would expect the initiaI coat over a guide wrapping (using lite epoxy) to not be perfectly level but I thought it should be more so over the inscription. I built bass rods for years and used a heavy build - one coat epoxy and never remember having this problem. I am relatively new at building fly rods and have just recently started back building rods after several years away from it. I appreciate your help and I will probably be calling on you again!..Bill

Gotcha!! I thought you were talking about wavy finish

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!